I've not seen such big caterpillar on roses like this one. I've noticed my Standard rose's bare branches, and was wondering, I don't remember pruning my rose 'that style'. lol, here today I found the culprit. This big 'lil fella has been munching on my rose. What's it? Will he be happy with other food source? Thanks.
Its head retracted like so when I was gently teasing it.
I also trimmed off the denuded branch, afraid birds will use those branches to perch on and subsequently will find the cat. Poor fella seems to getting ready to pupate. It hasn't vacate this position for hours this morning. I afraid to disturb it either way.
some sort of big old moth I think.
http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?guide=Caterpillars
Mrs_Ed, thanks for the link, I couldn't navigate very well via your link. Claypa helped identifying the cat. Guess what I've got? Polyphemus moth! I'll see if I can raise this baby indoor, please everyone wish me luck.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/999793/
This message was edited Jun 8, 2009 2:18 PM
Congrats on your polyphemus moth, Lily_love! I knew they ate a wide variety of trees/plants, but I didn't know they'd eat roses!
Sherry
Yes Sherry, you and I and hopefully many other DGers will learn of this. lol. I was busy the rest of the evening, so the cat. was on its own. In the morning, should it still out there, I'll bring it indoor to raise it myself. :-)
Hi Sherry, I've been reluctant on bringing the cat. indoor. I feared I may intefere with mother nature. The past few days, it seemed to have faired well. Early this morning, I noticed it has spunned some silk to keep itself suspended on the rose's branch likes this:
Could anyone tell me, once the cat. finishes spinning its cacoon, how long will the process take 'til the instar ecloses?
I'm seriously thinking of bringing it indoor with the rose's branch severed and propped in an upright position as it hibernates. Indoor environment, constant temp. with no direct sun light, will that be good? I saw a small thrift like, could be a ladybug larva getting close to the cat. a while ago. I feel as if it's well hidden from birds, but other predators such as wasps, and spiders? (Like the larva I just saw) will harm the cat.
